132 research outputs found
Constraints on the environment and energetics of the Broad-Line Ic SN2014ad from deep radio and X-ray observations
Broad-line type Ic Supernovae (BL-Ic SNe) are characterized by high ejecta
velocity ( km s) and are sometimes associated with the
relativistic jets typical of long duration ( s) Gamma-Ray Bursts
(L-GRBs). The reason why a small fraction of BL-Ic SNe harbor relativistic jets
is not known. Here we present deep X-ray and radio observations of the BL-Ic
SN2014ad extending from to days post explosion. SN2014ad was not
detected at either frequency and has no observational evidence of a GRB
counterpart. The proximity of SN2014ad ( Mpc) enables very deep
constraints on the progenitor mass-loss rate and on the total energy
of the fast ejecta . We consider two synchrotron emission scenarios for a
wind-like circumstellar medium (CSM): (i) uncollimated non-relativistic ejecta,
and (ii) off-axis relativistic jet. Within the first scenario our observations
are consistent with GRB-less BL-Ic SNe characterized by a modest energy budget
of their fast ejecta ( erg), like SNe 2002ap and 2010ay.
For jetted explosions, we cannot rule out a GRB with erg
(beam-corrected) with a narrow opening angle ()
observed moderately off-axis () and
expanding in a very low CSM density ( M
yr). Our study shows that off-axis low-energy jets expanding in a
low-density medium cannot be ruled out even in the most nearby BL-Ic SNe with
extensive deep observations, and might be a common feature of BL-Ic SNe.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted in Ap
One thousand days of SN 2015bn: HST imaging shows a light curve flattening consistent with magnetar predictions
We present the first observations of a Type I superluminous supernova (SLSN)
at days after maximum light. We observed SN 2015bn using the
Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys in the F475W, F625W and
F775W filters at 721 days and 1068 days. SN 2015bn is clearly detected and
resolved from its compact host, allowing reliable photometry. A galaxy template
constructed from these data further enables us to isolate the SLSN flux in deep
ground-based imaging. We measure a light curve decline rate at days of
mag (100 d), much shallower than the earlier evolution,
and slower than previous SLSNe (at any phase) or the decay rate of Co.
Neither additional radioactive isotopes nor a light echo can consistently
account for the slow decline. A spectrum at 1083 days shows the same [O I] and
[Ca II] lines as seen at days, with no new features to indicate
strong circumstellar interaction. Radio limits with the Very Large Array rule
out an extended wind for mass-loss rates M yr (where is the wind velocity in
units of 10 km s). The optical light curve is consistent with , which we show is expected for magnetar spin-down with inefficient
trapping; furthermore, the evolution matches predictions from earlier magnetar
model fits. The opacity to magnetar radiation is constrained at
cm g, consistent with photon-matter pair-production over a broad
GeV-TeV range. This suggests the magnetar spectral energy distribution,
and hence the 'missing energy' leaking from the ejecta, may peak in this range.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJL, updated to match accepted versio
SN 2016coi (ASASSN-16fp): an energetic H-stripped core-collapse supernova from a massive stellar progenitor with large mass loss
We present comprehensive observations and analysis of the energetic
H-stripped SN 2016coi (a.k.a. ASASSN-16fp), spanning the -ray through
optical and radio wavelengths, acquired within the first hours to 420
days post explosion. Our campaign confirms the identification of He in the SN
ejecta, which we interpret to be caused by a larger mixing of Ni into the outer
ejecta layers. From the modeling of the broad bolometric light curve we derive
a large ejecta mass to kinetic energy ratio (, ). The small
[\ion{Ca}{ii}] \lam\lam7291,7324 to [\ion{O}{i}] \lam\lam6300,6364 ratio
(0.2) observed in our late-time optical spectra is suggestive of a large
progenitor core mass at the time of collapse. We find that SN 2016coi is a
luminous source of X-rays ( in the first
days post explosion) and radio emission ( at peak). These values are in line with those
of relativistic SNe (2009bb, 2012ap). However, for SN 2016coi we infer
substantial pre-explosion progenitor mass-loss with rate and a sub-relativistic shock
velocity , in stark contrast with relativistic SNe and similar
to normal SNe. Finally, we find no evidence for a SN-associated shock breakout
-ray pulse with energy . While we
cannot exclude the presence of a companion in a binary system, taken together,
our findings are consistent with a massive single star progenitor that
experienced large mass loss in the years leading up to core-collapse, but was
unable to achieve complete stripping of its outer layers before explosion.Comment: Submitted to ApJ. Main text: 21 pages; Appendix: 15 pages; 12 figure
Improved constraints on H0 from a combined analysis of gravitational-wave and electromagnetic emission from GW170817
The luminosity distance measurement of GW170817 derived from GW analysis in
Abbott et al. 2017 (here, A17:H0) is highly correlated with the measured
inclination of the NS-NS system. To improve the precision of the distance
measurement, we attempt to constrain the inclination by modeling the broad-band
X-ray-to-radio emission from GW170817, which is dominated by the interaction of
the jet with the environment. We update our previous analysis and we consider
the radio and X-ray data obtained at days since merger. We find that the
afterglow emission from GW170817 is consistent with an off-axis relativistic
jet with energy
propagating into an environment with density , with preference for wider jets (opening angle
deg). For these jets, our modeling indicates an off-axis angle deg. We combine our constraints on with the
joint distance-inclination constraint from LIGO. Using the same
km/sec peculiar velocity uncertainty assumed in A17:H0 but with an inclination
constraint from the afterglow data, we get a value of \mbox{km/s/Mpc}, which is higher than the value of
\mbox{km/s/Mpc} found in A17:H0. Further,
using a more realistic peculiar velocity uncertainty of 250 km/sec derived from
previous work, we find km/s/Mpc for H0 from
this system. We note that this is in modestly better agreement with the local
distance ladder than the Planck CMB, though a significant such discrimination
will require such events. Future measurements at days of the
X-ray and radio emission will lead to tighter constraints.Comment: Submitted to ApJL. Comments Welcome. Revised uncertainties in v
AT2023fhn (the Finch):a luminous fast blue optical transient at a large offset from its host galaxy
Luminous fast blue optical transients (LFBOTs) – the prototypical example being AT 2018cow – are a rare class of events whose origins are poorly understood. They are characterized by rapid evolution, featureless blue spectra at early times, and luminous X-ray and radio emission. LFBOTs thus far have been found exclusively at small projected offsets from star-forming host galaxies. We present Hubble Space Telescope, Gemini, Chandra, and Very Large Array observations of a new LFBOT, AT 2023fhn. The Hubble Space Telescope data reveal a large offset (>3.5 half-light radii) from the two closest galaxies, both at redshift z ∼ 0.24. The location of AT 2023fhn is in stark contrast with previous events, and demonstrates that LFBOTs can occur in a range of galactic environments
AT2023fhn (the Finch): a Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient at a large offset from its host galaxy
Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transients (LFBOTs) - the prototypical example
being AT 2018cow - are a rare class of events whose origins are poorly
understood. They are characterised by rapid evolution, featureless blue spectra
at early times, and luminous X-ray and radio emission. LFBOTs thus far have
been found exclusively at small projected offsets from star-forming host
galaxies. We present Hubble Space Telescope, Gemini, Chandra and Very Large
Array observations of a new LFBOT, AT2023fhn. The Hubble Space Telescope data
reveal a large offset (greater than 3.5 half-light radii) from the two closest
galaxies, both at a redshift of 0.24. The isolated environment of AT 2023fhn is
in stark contrast with previous events, is challenging to explain with most
LFBOT progenitor models, and calls into question the homogeneity of LFBOTs as a
class.Comment: Submitted to MNRASL. 7 pages, 4 figures, 2 table
Luminous Radio Emission from the Superluminous Supernova 2017ens at 3.3 Yr After Explosion
We present the results from a multiyear radio campaign of the superluminous supernova (SLSN) SN 2017ens, which yielded the earliest radio detection of an SLSN to date at the age of ∼3.3 yr after explosion. SN 2017ens was not detected at radio frequencies in the first ∼300 days but reached Lν ≈ 1028 erg s−1 cm−2 Hz−1 at ν ∼ 6 GHz, ∼1250 days post explosion. Interpreting the radio observations in the context of synchrotron radiation from the supernova shock interaction with the circumstellar medium (CSM), we infer an effective mass-loss rate Ṁ ≈ 10−4 M☉ yr−1 at r ∼ 1017 cm from the explosion\u27s site, for a wind speed of vw = 50–60 km s−1 as measured from optical spectra. These findings are consistent with the spectroscopic metamorphosis of SN 2017ens from hydrogen poor to hydrogen rich ∼190 days after explosion reported by Chen et al. SN 2017ens is thus an addition to the sample of hydrogen-poor massive progenitors that explode shortly after having lost their hydrogen envelope. The inferred circumstellar densities, implying a CSM mass up to ∼0.5 M☉, and low velocity of the ejection suggest that binary interactions (in the form of common-envelope evolution and subsequent envelope ejection) play a role in shaping the evolution of the stellar progenitors of SLSNe in the ≲ 500 yr preceding core collapse
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